Interspersed through the narrative are Pinckney's own memories of growing up during the civil rights era and the reactions of his parents to the changes taking place in American society. He concludes with an examination of ongoing efforts by Republicans to suppress the black vote, with particular attention to the Supreme Court's recent decision striking down part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Also included here is Pinckney's essay "What Black Means Now," on the history
of the black middle class, stereotypes about blacks and crime, and contemporary debates about "post-blackness."